Flexible-hose pump

ABSTRACT

A flexible-hose pump having at least one flexible hose which is pressed against a contact face by means of pivoted fingers actuated in succession.

United States Patent [72] Inventor l-lansjorg Kochlin [50] Field of Search 417/424, Schlosserstrasse 38, 783 Emmendingen, 476, 477, 475; 418/45 Germany [21] Appl. No. 17,370 [56] Referenees Cited [22] Filed Mar. 9, 1970 UNITED STATES PATENTS Patented M18, 1971 2,651,264 9/1953 Bruckmann 417/476 x [32] Priority gllr- 1969 3,083,647 4/ 1963 Muller 417/474 [33] ermany Primary Exammer-Carlton R. Croyle [31] P 19 n 8742 Assistant Examiner-Richard E. Gluck Attorney-Michael S. Striker [54] FLEXIBLE-HOSE PUMP 10 claims 5 Drawing Fiss' ABSTRACT: A flexible-hose pump having at least one flexi- [52] 0.5. CI 417/474 b|e hose which is pressed against a Contact f by means f [51 1 ll!- pivoted fingers actuated in succession #1 w 72 v .lT T P/f 73 I "/74 I y I 70 F -78, I6

FLEXIBLE-HOSE PUMP The problem underlying the present invention is that of providing a simple and compact flexible-hose pump which is easy to handle and reliable in operation and which, if necessary, can be sterilized and kept sterile. The solution for this problem consists of a flexible-hose pump of the kind men tioned above. The contact face is designed as the inside face of a cylinder, the fingers are pivotable inside the cylinder approximately in a radial direction and these fingers can be moved towards the hose by means of an eccentrically rotating actuating element, preferably an eccentric disc or similar element.

This arrangement of the fingers with respect to the cylindrical contact face has the advantage that only a single-actuating element is necessary. Likewise manufacture is rendered simpler and cheaper on account of the fact that the fingers have a simple long shape, that important elements of the pump are designed as bodies of revolution and, therefore, are easy to manufacture, to maintain and to actuate.

In an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the actuating element can be shifted and locked axially, and the fingers are designed with a height changing in longitudinal direction and preferably tapered towards their free ends. On account of this design of the actuating element and of the fingers, the clearance between the loaded fingers and the contact face can be set by shifting and adjusting the actuating element. This clearance will be adjusted as a function of the wall thickness of the hose used or of its elasticity, which will extend the life of the hose and enhance reliability in operation.

According to a further feature of the present invention, the actuating element is designed as a roller connected by means of a pivot bearing to a threaded bush which can be screwed onto the eccentric shaft. In this way, sliding friction between the roller and the fingers pressed by the roller is avoided. The fingers pressed by the roller are in this way subjected only to a radial force component and are not additionally subjected to a component in the direction of rotation of the eccentric shaft, so that the strain to which the material of the fingers is subjected, especially that of their pivot bearings, is kept as low as possible.

According to a further development of the present invention, the fingers, in their positions in which they are not loaded by the actuating element, are kept away from the hose by spring elements or the like, so that the hose needs to be resilient only to expand again from its compressed condition and not, additionally, to move the fingers.

In an advantageous embodiment of the present invention,

the fingers are mounted in a disc of elastic material, e.g. rubber, and pivotable due to the disc's elasticity. This rubber disc avoids the sliding of metal on metal where the fingers are mounted, for which reason the pump develops low noise in operation and requires no bearing lubrication. It is advantageous to mount in this embodiment the fingers in the rubber disc in such a way that, in unloaded condition, they are lifted off the hose, so that additional spring elements are superfluous and that stressing of the flexible hose is largely decreased.

One practical embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that the contact face is designed as the inner face of a housing part which can be removed and mounted by moving it over the free ends of the fingers, the housing part being for example bell shaped and screwed on the remainder of the housing. Due to this removable housing part, replacement of a hose in the pump is very simple and the interior of the flexible-hose pump is readily accessible.

Preferably a guide slot is provided in the removable housing part which forms a clamping device for fixing the hose in working position, so that, after replacement of a hose, the

FIG. 3 represents a partial plan view of the front portion of the flexible-hose pump.

FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of the finger support.

FIG. 5 is a highly schematic side elevation of the pump.

The flexible-hose pump has a cylindrical housing 1 which is extended by a bell-shaped housing 2. This bellshaped housing is for example connected by threading 31 to housing 1 and can thus be removed. The housing 2 has an inner contact face 3, along which hose 4 extends, which defines a loop inside along the contact face 3. The ends of hose 4 project from bell housing 2 in the area of a guide slot 5 (FIGS. 2 and 3).

Within housing 1, there are long fingers 6 which extend approximately in axial direction and along an imaginery truncated cone of slightly tapered formation. The end portions 7 of these fingers 6 are located within the loop formed by hose 4. The waist-shaped central portions 8 of fingers 6 are located in radial slots 9 of a disc 10 which is provided for guiding fingers 6. Disc 10 is held in housing I by means of clamping sleeve 11 and also serves for centering bearing sleeve 12.

Bearing sleeve 12 surrounds a pump shaft 13 supported at Ll and which is driven by motor M. As per FIG. 5, the flexible-hose pump and motor M are designed as separate units interconnected by a usual coupling K which is fixed to shaft 13 By means of this coupling K, the flexible-hose pump can readily be separated from the motor, and for example be sterilized in an autoclave. An eccentric shaft 15 is connected to a collar 14 of pump shaft 13. In an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, a threaded sleeve 16 is partly screwed onto eccentric shaft 15. Threaded sleeve 16 carries a pivot bearing 17 and a roller 18 supported on the same; threaded sleeve 16 has at its outer end a knob 19 and can be adjusted axially together with roller 18, as is indicated by double arrow Pf l by turning the knob.

When the flexible-hose pump and the eccentric shaft 13 and 15 are rotating, roller 18 presses in succession against the backs 20 of fingers 6. Fingers 6 actuated by roller 18 successively press successive portions of the hose 4 of elastic material against contact face 3 and compress it to such an extent so that opposite wall portions of the hose abut against each other; (FIG. 1, upper part) and that the enclosed material is moved forwardly. On account of its elasticity, that portion of hose 4 which is no longer squeezed expands again to its original form (FIG. 1, lower part) and in new material.

As per FIG. 4, the fingers 6 are placed with their motor-side ends into supporting bores 26 of a disc 24 which, in an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, consists of rubber. This rubber disc 24, which at its center has an opening 25 for bearing sleeve 12 makes it unnecessary to provide a bearing having metal parts one on other metal part, because fingers 6-are pivotable on account of the elastic deformation of rubber disc 24. In an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, fingers 6 may be placed in rubber disc 24 at a slight angle to the axis, so that end portions 7 of the fingers, in unloaded condition, lift off hose 4 (FIG. 1 lower part). Hose 4 can then in a simpler way readopt its non-deformed shape, because it does not have to move the unloaded fingers 6. For lifting the unloaded fingers 6, additional spring elements F may be provided, if necessary.

The backs 20 of fingers 6 are at an angle to their sides which are in contact with hose 4. By rotation of threaded sleeve 16 on eccentric shaft 15 and due to the shifting of roller 18 achieved thereby, the working point of roller 18 on the backs 20 of fingers 6 can be selected in the longitudinal direction of these fingers. By selection of the working point of roller 18 on back 20 the distance of loaded finger 6 from contact face 3 can be adjusted to the specific wall thickness of hose 4.

For mounting a new hose 4 in the flexible hose pump, bell housing 2 is removed from pump housing 1, and the new hose arranged in the form of a loop is introduced through guide slot 5 into bell 2. Bell 2 with hose 4 is pushed over fingers 6 project ing from housing I, and subsequently threaded sleeve 16 with roller 18 is screwed onto eccentric shaft 15 and adjusted. For replacing a hose it is not necessary to completely remove threaded sleeve 16 with roller 18 from eccentric shaft it is sufficient to turn threaded sleeve 16 with roller 18 backwards on eccentric shaft 15, until roller 18 is away from fingers 6, to push hell 2 with the hose over fingers 6 and to screw the threaded sleeve 16 with roller 18 inwardly for readjustment. The free ends of hose 4 projecting from bell 2 are threaded through an oval ring 21 place in an oval opening of bell 2 and, if necessary, clamped in position by means of wedge 22 (FIGS. 2 and 3).

In an advantageous development the flexible-hose pump has, at least in the area of bell housing 2 and of knob 19, a flexible protective hood 32 that can be slightly deformed elastically by twisting (FIG. 1). This hood has sleeve type hose passages which are in contact with the ends of hose 4 and provide a seal (FIG. 2). As one can well see from FIGS. 1 and 3, this protective hood 32 covers bell 2 and knob 19 from the area of connection between bell 2 and cylindrical housing 1, in a somewhat bell-like fashion, so that the knob side end of the flexible-hose pump is sealed off towards the outside. As can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 3, the shape of the protective hood adapts itself approximately to the contours of bell housing 2 and to those of knob 19 projecting from the same, so that by the protective hood 32 from the outside, one can rotate knob 19. The protective hood 32 can be twisted in itself to some extent as per double arrow PfZ. By grasping several times, knob 19 can be adjusted as desired. It will be an advantage to have the protective hood 32 manufactured from a thin transparent plastic film that can adapt itself well to the grasping and rotating movements and still permit seeing the bell housing 2. In the case of the embodiment shown in FIG. I, the protective hood 32 is fixed by means of a tension band 35 to the base of bell housing 2. But, as indicated in FIG. 5, the protective hood 32 may also be fixed to cylindrical housing 1 of the flexiblehose pump.

The flexible-hose pump according to the present invention can well be sterilized on separating it from motor M, the simple construction of the pump favoring such sterilization. It is also possible to sterilize bell housing 2, protective hood 32 and hose 4 separately or partly assembled, depending on what is more favorable. The motor-side shaft passage through the front of housing 1 at this place may be provided with the usual shaft seals. If high requirements are made, one can provide there also a known magnetic clutch acting through a tightly sealing front wall or similar end wall. On sterilization, the flexible-hose pump according to the present invention is closed on all sides and can be operated in sterilized condition, which is advantageous especially if it is used in the field of medicine. Even during operation, knob handle 19 can be adjusted so that the pump remains sterile.

Iclaim:

l. A hose pump comprising, in combination, housing m ms having an inner substantially cylindrical contact face; a fiexible hose forming a loop within said housing means and abutting against said contact face; an annulus of fingers transversely spaced from each other and extending in substantially an axial direction through said housing means and having end portions within the loop formed by said hose; and eccentrically rotating actuating means engaging faces of said fingers facing away from said contact face for pressing said fingers seriatim towards said contact face to thereby compress successive hose portions located between the respective fingers and the contact face.

2. A hose pump as defined in claim 1, wherein the height of said fingers varies in longitudinal direction thereof and including means for adjusting the position of said actuating means in longitudinal direction of said fingers.

3. A hose pump as defined in claim 2, wherein said fingers taper towards the free ends thereof.

4. A hose pump as defined in claim 1, wherein said actuating means comprise an eccentric shaft having an outer screw thread, a sleeve having an inner screw thread threaded on said outer screw thread of said shaft so as to be axially adjustable relative to said shaft; an antifriction bearing mounted in fixed position on said sleeve, and a roller mounted on said bearin 5. A hose pump as defined in claim 1, and including a we extending intermediate opposite ends of said fingers transversely through said housing means and being formed with a plurality of radially extending slots in which said fingers are respectively guided.

6. A hose pump as defined in claim 1, and including means mounting said fingers in the region of the ends thereof opposite said end portions for pivotal movement, and resilient means cooperating with said fingers for maintaining those fingers which are not pressed by said actuating means toward said contact face out of contact with said hose.

7. A hose pump as defined in claim 6, wherein said mounting means comprises a disc of resiliently compressible material extending transversely through said housing means and being formed with a plurality of axially extending bores in which said ends of said fingers are tightly engaged so that said fingers may pivot in said bores due to the resiliency of said disc and the latter, due to its resiliency, also forms said means for maintaining those fingers which are not pressed by said actuating means toward said contact face out of contact with said hose.

8. A hose pump as defined in claim 1, wherein said housing means comprises a first and a second housing member aligned along a common axis and releasably connected to each other, said second housing member being substantially bell-shaped and provided with said inner cylindrical contact face.

9. A hose pump as defined in claim 8, wherein said second housing member is formed with a guide slot through which end portions of said hose extend to the outside of the housing means.

10. A hose pump as defined in claim 8, wherein said second housing member is formed at the ends thereof facing away from said first housing member with a substantially central opening, and wherein said actuating means comprises an eccentric shaft extending through said housing member and having an outer screw thread, a sleeve having an inner screw thread threaded on said outer screw thread of said shaft, said sleeve projecting through said opening beyond said second housing member and having at the outer end thereof a knob for turning said sleeve relative to said shaft to thereby adjust the axial position of said sleeve relative to said shaft, an antifriction bearing mounted on said sleeve, and a roller mounted on said antifriction bearing.

# i I f i 

1. A hose pump comprising, in combination, housing means having an inner substantially cylindrical contact face; a flexible hose forming a loop within said housing means and abutting against said contact face; an annulus of fingers transversely spaced from each other and extending in substantially an axial direction through said housing means and having end portions within the loop formed by said hose; and eccentrically rotating actuating means engaging faces of said fingers facing away from said contact face for pressing said fingers seriatim towards said contact face to thereby compress successive hose portions located between the respective fingers and the contact face.
 2. A hose pump as defined in claim 1, wherein the height of said fingers varies in longitudinal direction thereof and including means for adjusting the position of said actuating means in longitudinal direction of said fingers.
 3. A hose pump as defined in claim 2, wherein said fingers taper towards the free ends thereof.
 4. A hose pump as defined in claim 1, wherein said actuating means comprise an eccentric shaft having an outer screw thread, a sleeve having an inner screw thread threaded on said outer screw thread of said shaft so as to be axially adjustable relative to said shaft; an antifriction bearing mounted in fixed position on said sleeve, and a roller mounted on said bearing.
 5. A hose pump as defined in claim 1, and including a disc extending intermediate opposite ends of said fingers transversely through said housing means and being formed with a plurality of radially extending slots in which said fingers are respectively guided.
 6. A hose pump as defined in claim 1, and including means mounting said fingers in the region of the ends thereof opposite said end portions for pivotal movement, and resilient means cooperating with said fingers for maintaining those fingers which are not pressed by said actuating means toward said contact face out of contact with said hose.
 7. A hose pump as defined in claim 6, wherein said mounting means comprises a disc of resiliently compressible material extending transversely through said housing means and being formed with a plurality of axially extending bores in which said ends of said fingers are tightly engaged so that said fingers may pivot in said bores due to the resiliency of said disc and the latter, due to its resiliency, also forms said means for maintaining those fingers which are not pressed by said actuating means toward said contact face out of contact with said hose.
 8. A hose pump as defined in claim 1, wherein said housing means comprises a first and a second housing member aligned along a common axis and releasably connected to each other, said second housing member being substantially bell shaped and provided with said inner cylindrical contact face.
 9. A hose pump as defined in claim 8, wherein said second housing member is formed with a guide slot through which end portions of said hose extend to the outside of the housing means.
 10. A hose pump as defined in claim 8, wherein said second housing member is formed at the ends thereof facing away from said first housing member with a substantially central opening, and wherein said actuating means comprises an eccentric shaft extending through said housing member and having an outer screw thread, a sleeve having an inner screw thread threaded on said outer screw thread of said shaft, said sleeve projecting through said opening beyond said second housing member and having at the outer end thereof a knob for turning said sleeve relative to said shaft to thereby adjust the axial position of said sleeve relative to said shaft, an antifriction bearing mounted on said sleeve, and a roller mounted on said antifriction bearing. 